How does a calorimeter work?
What is a Bomb- or Combustion Calorimeter?
A Bomb-Calorimeter is used to measure the heat created by a sample burned under an
oxygen atmosphere in a closed vessel, which is surrounded by water, under controlled
conditions.
The measurement result is called the Combustion-, Calorific- or BTU-value. The BTU value
is more common in the [Link] result allows the user to make certain important quality,
physiological, physical and chemical as well as financial conclusions and/or decisions on the
product, for the company.
There are many different types of Calorimeters available on the market. You might have
heard of Solution Calorimeter, Differential Scanning Calorimeter (DSC), Titration
Calorimeter, Gas Calorimeter and Reaction Calorimeter for example.
IKA manufactures so called Bomb- or Combustion Calorimeter. The term Bomb is
misleading, but it is the most commonly used description of this kind of equipment. We will
use the term decomposition vessel instead of bomb in this Guidebook.
About 1g of solid or liquid matter is weighed into a crucible, and placed inside a stainless
steel container (the Decomposition vessel) filled with 30 bar (435 PSI) of oxygen
(Quality: technical oxygen 99.98%). Than the sample is ignited through a cotton thread
connected to an ignition wire inside the decomposition vessel and burned (combusted).
During the combustion the core temperature in the crucible can go up to 1000oC (1800
oF), and the pressure rises for milliseconds to approximately 200 bar (2900 PSI). All
organic matter is burned under these conditions, and oxidized. Even inorganic matter will
be oxidized to some extend.
The heat created during the burning process can be determined in different ways.
A vessel filled with water (inner vessel) surrounds the
Decomposition vessel.
The heat created by the combustion process is transferred into the
surrounding water.
To ensure that the heat created during the combustion does not get
out of the system or heat gets into the system from the
environment (room temperature changes), another water filled
vessel (outer vessel) is used as an isolation.
Many customers often ask for a specific kind of Calorimeter. You will hear and read terms
like adiabatic, isoperibol, isotherm, aneroid and [Link] are different
principles used to describe the working principles of the Calorimeter in terms of the
temperature control between the inner- and outer vessel surrounding the decomposition
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Experiment: Bomb Calorimetry
The heat change associated with the combustion of a compound, such as CwHxNyOz , is
measured with a bomb calormeter.
CwHxNyOz (s) + ( 2w + x/2 - z)/2 O2 (g)
w CO2 (g) + x/2 H2O (l) + y/2 N2
(g)
The experimental procedure used to acquire the heat change is illustrated in the JAVA applet
below. Select a compound (benzoic acid, glycine, naphthalene, oxalic acid, and sucrose) to be
burned, enter the weight of the sample of the selected compound, and click the "Start" button.
When the "Ignite" button appears, click the button to initiate the combustion reaction. Record the
intial and final temperatures of the calorimeter
Compound
Chemical Formula
Molar Mass (g/mole)
benzoic acid
C7H6O2
122.12
glycine
C2H5NO2
75.07
naphthalene
C10H8
128.17
oxalic acid
C2H2O4
90.04
sucrose
C12H22O11
342.30
Place a 3.300 g sample of benzoic acid in the bomb. After the calorimeter is assembled, ignite
the sample and record the initial and final temperatures.
1. If Ecomb = -26.43 kJ/g for benzoic acid , how much heat will be produced when 3.300 g
of benzoic acid are burned in the calorimeter?
2. Why does the temperature of the water in the bucket rise?
3. If the specific heat capacity of water is 4.180 J/g-oC, how much heat did the 2000 g of
water absorb?
4. Why is the amount of heat absorbed by the water not equal to the amount of heat
produced from the combustion of the 3.300 g sample of benzoic acid?
5. Calculate the heat capacity of thecalorimeter, Ccalor. See the lecture notes for help.
If you have preformed all of the experiments, answered all of the questions above, and
completed this section of the report to be submitted for credit, then you may check the Answers
to the First Set of Questions
Place a 2.000 g sample of naphthalene in the bomb. After the calorimeter is assembled, ignite
the sample and record the initial and final temperatures.
1. How much heat is produced when the 2.000 g sample of naphthalene is burned?
2. Calculate Eocomb for the combustion of 1.00 mole of naphthalene.
3. Calculate Hocomb for the combustion of 1.00 mole of naphthalene. See the lecture notes
for help.
4. Calculate Hof for naphthalene. See the lecture notes for help.
If you have preformed all of the experiments, answered all of the questions, and completed the
report to be submitted for credit, then you may check the Answers to the Second Set of
Questions
What is a Bomb Calorimeter?
A bomb calorimeter is an instrument used to measure the heat of a reaction. The vessel, or bomb,
is surrounded by water and is sealed. When the particular fuel is heated, the air escapes and also
heats the water. Then, the temperature of the water is checked and can determine the caloric
content of the fuel. Basically, bomb calorimeters are used to find the calorie content of foods.
Heat of combustion
The heat of combustion (
) is the energy released as heat when a compound undergoes
complete combustion with oxygen under standard conditions. The chemical reaction is typically
a hydrocarbon reacting with oxygen to form carbon dioxide, water and heat. It may be expressed
with the quantities:
energy/mole of fuel (kJ/mol)
energy/mass of fuel
energy/volume of fuel
The heat of combustion is conventionally measured with a bomb calorimeter. It may also be
calculated as the difference between the heat of formation
of the products and reactants.
Heating value
The heating value (or energy value or calorific value) of a substance, usually a fuel or food
(see food energy), is the amount of heat released during the combustion of a specified amount of
it. The energy value is a characteristic for each substance. It is measured in units of energy per
unit of the substance, usually mass, such as: kJ/kg, kJ/mol, kcal/kg, Btu/lb. Heating value is
commonly determined by use of a bomb calorimeter.
Heating value unit conversions (for more visit Wolfram Alpha):
kcal/kg = MJ/kg * 238.846
Btu/lb = MJ/kg * 429.923
Btu/lb = kcals * 1.8
The heat of combustion for fuels is expressed as the HHV, LHV, or GHV.
Higher heating value
The quantity known as higher heating value (HHV) (or gross energy or upper heating value or
gross calorific value (GCV) or higher calorific value (HCV)) is determined by bringing all the
products of combustion back to the original pre-combustion temperature, and in particular
condensing any vapor produced. Such measurements often use a standard temperature of 25C.
This is the same as the thermodynamic heat of combustion since the enthalpy change for the
reaction assumes a common temperature of the compounds before and after combustion, in
which case the water produced by combustion is liquid.
The higher heating value takes into account the latent heat of vaporization of water in the
combustion products, and is useful in calculating heating values for fuels where condensation of
the reaction products is practical (e.g., in a gas-fired boiler used for space heat). In other words,
HHV assumes all the water component is in liquid state at the end of combustion (in product of
combustion) and that heat above 150C can be put to use.
Lower heating value
The quantity known as lower heating value (LHV) (net calorific value (NCV) or lower calorific
value (LCV)) is determined by subtracting the heat of vaporization of the water vapor from the
higher heating value. This treats any H2O formed as a vapor. The energy required to vaporize the
water therefore is not released as heat.
LHV calculations assume that the water component of a combustion process is in vapor state at
the end of combustion, as opposed to the higher heating value (HHV) (a.k.a. gross calorific
value or gross CV) which assumes that all of the water in a combustion process is in a liquid state
after a combustion process.
The LHV assumes that the latent heat of vaporization of water in the fuel and the reaction
products is not recovered. It is useful in comparing fuels where condensation of the combustion
products is impractical, or heat at a temperature below 150C cannot be put to use.
The above is but one definition of lower heating value adopted by the American Petroleum
Institute (API) and uses a reference temperature of 60F (15.56C).
Another definition, used by Gas Processors Suppliers Association (GPSA) and originally used by
API (data collected for API research project 44), is the enthalpy of all combustion products
minus the enthalpy of the fuel at the reference temperature (API research project 44 used 25C.
GPSA currently uses 60F), minus the enthalpy of the stoichiometric oxygen (O2) at the
reference temperature, minus the heat of vaporization of the vapor content of the combustion
products.
The distinction between the two is that this second definition assumes that the combustion
products are all returned to the reference temperature and the heat content from the condensing
vapor is considered not to be useful. This is more easily calculated from the higher heating value
than when using the preceding definition and will in fact give a slightly different answer.
Gross heating value
Gross heating value (see AR) accounts for water in the exhaust leaving as
vapor, and includes liquid water in the fuel prior to combustion. This value is
important for fuels like wood or coal, which will usually contain some amount
of water prior to burning.
Note that GPSA 12th Edition states that the Gross Heating Value of a gas is
equivalent to Higher Heating Value. This suggests that there may be different
standards in play. The use of the term Gross normally describes a larger value
than the Net, which usually describes a smaller value. GPSA is consistent with
this, and equates the Gross Heating Value to the higher heating value (for a
gas - so probably with no liquid water present), and the Net Heating Value to
the lower heating value.
Measuring heating values
The higher heating value is experimentally determined in a bomb calorimeter. The combustion of
a stoichiometric mixture of fuel and oxidizer (e.g., two moles of hydrogen and one mole of
oxygen) in a steel container at 25 is initiated by an ignition device and the reactions allowed to
complete. When hydrogen and oxygen react during combustion, water vapor is produced. The
vessel and its contents are then cooled to the original 25C and the higher heating value is
determined as the heat released between identical initial and final temperatures.
When the lower heating value (LHV) is determined, cooling is stopped at 150C and the reaction
heat is only partially recovered. The limit of 150C is an arbitrary choice.
Note: Higher heating value (HHV) is calculated with the product of water being in liquid form
while lower heating value (LHV) is calculated with the product of water being in vapor form.
Relation between heating values
The difference between the two heating values depends on the chemical composition of the fuel.
In the case of pure carbon or carbon monoxide, the two heating values are almost identical, the
difference being the sensible heat content of carbon dioxide between 150C and 25C (sensible
heat exchange causes a change of temperature. In contrast, latent heat is added or subtracted for
phase transitions at constant temperature. Examples: heat of vaporization or heat of fusion). For
hydrogen the difference is much more significant as it includes the sensible heat of water vapour
between 150C and 100C, the latent heat of condensation at 100C, and the sensible heat of the
condensed water between 100C and 25C. All in all, the higher heating value of hydrogen is
18.2% above its lower heating value (142 MJ/kg vs. 120 MJ/kg). For hydrocarbons the
difference depends on the hydrogen content of the fuel. For gasoline and diesel the higher
heating value exceeds the lower heating value by about 10% and 7% respectively, and for natural
gas about 11%.
A common method of relating HHV to LHV is:
HHV = LHV + hv x (nH2O,out/nfuel,in)
where hv is the heat of vaporization of water, n H2O,out is the moles of water
vaporized and nfuel,in is the number of moles of fuel combusted.[1]
Most applications that burn fuel produce water vapour, which is unused and thus wastes its heat
content. In such applications, the lower heating value is generally used to give a 'benchmark' for
the process; however, for true energy calculations the higher heating value is correct. This is
particularly relevant for natural gas, whose high hydrogen content produces much water. The
gross energy value is relevant for gas burned in condensing boilers and power plants with fluegas condensation that condense the water vapour produced by combustion, recovering heat
which would otherwise be wasted.
Usage of terms
For historical reasons, the efficiency of power plants and combined heat and power plants in
Europe may have once been calculated based on the LHV. However, this does not seem to be the
case nowadays and most countries are tending to correctly use HHV for true efficiency figures.
This is becoming noticeable in modern UK energy publications with the increase of energy
awareness and based on the simple fact that it is correct. While in the US, values may have been
reported to be generally based on the HHV, although any initial investigation may reveal that the
US is still tending to use LHV in some circumstances, whether technically correct or not. This
has the peculiar result that contemporary combined heat and power plants, where flue-gas
condensation is implemented, may report efficiencies exceeding 100%. Using LHV in other
energy calculations brings similar errors, especially when pulled (incorrectly) into electrolysis
calculations etc.
Many engine manufacturers rate their engine fuel consumption by the lower heating values.
American consumers should be aware that the corresponding fuel-consumption figure based on
the higher heating value will be somewhat higher.
The difference between HHV and LHV definitions causes endless confusion when quoters do not
bother to state the convention being used.[2] since there is typically a 10% difference between the
two methods for a power plant burning natural gas. For simply benchmarking part of a reaction
the LHV may be appropriate, but HHV should be used for overall energy efficiency calculations,
if only to avoid confusion, and in any case the value or convention should be clearly stated.
Accounting for moisture
Both HHV and LHV can be expressed in terms of AR (all moisture counted), MF and MAF
(only water from combustion of hydrogen). AR, MF, and MAF are commonly used for indicating
the heating values of coal:
AR (As Received) indicates that the fuel heating value has been measured
with all moisture and ash forming minerals present.
MF (Moisture Free) or Dry indicates that the fuel heating value has been
measured after the fuel has been dried of all inherent moisture but still
retaining its ash forming minerals.
MAF (Moisture and Ash Free) or DAF (Dry and Ash Free) indicates that the
fuel heating value has been measured in the absence of inherent moisture
and ash forming minerals.
Heat of combustion tables
Higher (HHV) and Lower (LHV) Heating values
of some common fuels[3]
Fuel
Hydrogen
HHV MJ/kg
HHV BTU/lb
HHV kJ/mol
LHV MJ/kg
141.80
61,000
286
119.96
Methane
55.50
23,900
889
50.00
Ethane
51.90
22,400
1,560
47.80
Propane
50.35
21,700
2,220
46.35
Butane
49.50
20,900
2,877
45.75
Pentane
45.35
Gasoline
47.30
20,400
44.4
Paraffin wax
46.00
19,900
41.50
Kerosene
46.20
19,862
43.00
Diesel
44.80
19,300
43.4
Coal (Anthracite)
32.50
14,000
Coal (Lignite)
15.00
8,000
Wood (MAF)
21.7
8,700
Peat (damp)
6.00
2,500
15.00
6,500
Peat (dry)
Higher heating value
of some less common fuels[3]
Fuel
HHV MJ/kg
BTU/lb
kJ/mol
Methanol
22.7
9,800
726.0
Ethanol
29.7
12,800
1,300.0
Propanol
33.6
14,500
2,020.0
Acetylene
49.9
21,500
1,300.0
Benzene
41.8
18,000
3,270.0
Ammonia
22.5
9,690
382.0
Hydrazine
19.4
8,370
622.0
Hexamine
30.0
12,900
4,200.0
Carbon
32.8
14,100
393.5
Higher (HHV) and Lower (LHV) Heating values
of some common fuels[3]
Fuel
Hydrogen
HHV MJ/kg
HHV BTU/lb
HHV kJ/mol
LHV MJ/kg
141.80
61,000
286
119.96
Methane
55.50
23,900
889
50.00
Ethane
51.90
22,400
1,560
47.80
Propane
50.35
21,700
2,220
46.35
Butane
49.50
20,900
2,877
45.75
Pentane
45.35
Gasoline
47.30
20,400
44.4
Paraffin wax
46.00
19,900
41.50
Kerosene
46.20
19,862
43.00
Diesel
44.80
19,300
43.4
Coal (Anthracite)
32.50
14,000
Coal (Lignite)
15.00
8,000
Wood (MAF)
21.7
8,700
Peat (damp)
6.00
2,500
15.00
6,500
Peat (dry)
Higher heating value
of some less common fuels[3]
Fuel
HHV MJ/kg
BTU/lb
kJ/mol
Methanol
22.7
9,800
726.0
Ethanol
29.7
12,800
1,300.0
Propanol
33.6
14,500
2,020.0
Acetylene
49.9
21,500
1,300.0
Benzene
41.8
18,000
3,270.0
Ammonia
22.5
9,690
382.0
Hydrazine
19.4
8,370
622.0
Hexamine
30.0
12,900
4,200.0
Carbon
32.8
14,100
393.5
Higher (HHV) and Lower (LHV) Heating values
of some common fuels[3]
Fuel
Hydrogen
HHV MJ/kg
HHV BTU/lb
HHV kJ/mol
LHV MJ/kg
141.80
61,000
286
119.96
Methane
55.50
23,900
889
50.00
Ethane
51.90
22,400
1,560
47.80
Propane
50.35
21,700
2,220
46.35
Butane
49.50
20,900
2,877
45.75
Pentane
45.35
Gasoline
47.30
20,400
44.4
Paraffin wax
46.00
19,900
41.50
Kerosene
46.20
19,862
43.00
Diesel
44.80
19,300
43.4
Coal (Anthracite)
32.50
14,000
Coal (Lignite)
15.00
8,000
Wood (MAF)
21.7
8,700
Peat (damp)
6.00
2,500
15.00
6,500
Peat (dry)
Higher heating value
of some less common fuels[3]
Fuel
HHV MJ/kg
BTU/lb
kJ/mol
Methanol
22.7
9,800
726.0
Ethanol
29.7
12,800
1,300.0
Propanol
33.6
14,500
2,020.0
Acetylene
49.9
21,500
1,300.0
Benzene
41.8
18,000
3,270.0
Ammonia
22.5
9,690
382.0
Hydrazine
19.4
8,370
622.0
Hexamine
30.0
12,900
4,200.0
Carbon
32.8
14,100
393.5
Higher (HHV) and Lower (LHV) Heating values
of some common fuels[3]
Fuel
Hydrogen
HHV MJ/kg
HHV BTU/lb
HHV kJ/mol
LHV MJ/kg
141.80
61,000
286
119.96
Methane
55.50
23,900
889
50.00
Ethane
51.90
22,400
1,560
47.80
Propane
50.35
21,700
2,220
46.35
Butane
49.50
20,900
2,877
45.75
Pentane
45.35
Gasoline
47.30
20,400
44.4
Paraffin wax
46.00
19,900
41.50
Kerosene
46.20
19,862
43.00
Diesel
44.80
19,300
43.4
Coal (Anthracite)
32.50
14,000
Coal (Lignite)
15.00
8,000
Wood (MAF)
21.7
8,700
Peat (damp)
6.00
2,500
15.00
6,500
Peat (dry)
Higher heating value
of some less common fuels[3]
Fuel
HHV MJ/kg
BTU/lb
kJ/mol
Methanol
22.7
9,800
726.0
Ethanol
29.7
12,800
1,300.0
Propanol
33.6
14,500
2,020.0
Acetylene
49.9
21,500
1,300.0
Benzene
41.8
18,000
3,270.0
Ammonia
22.5
9,690
382.0
Hydrazine
19.4
8,370
622.0
Hexamine
30.0
12,900
4,200.0
Carbon
32.8
14,100
393.5
Higher (HHV) and Lower (LHV) Heating values
of some common fuels[3]
Fuel
Hydrogen
HHV MJ/kg
HHV BTU/lb
HHV kJ/mol
LHV MJ/kg
141.80
61,000
286
119.96
Methane
55.50
23,900
889
50.00
Ethane
51.90
22,400
1,560
47.80
Propane
50.35
21,700
2,220
46.35
Butane
49.50
20,900
2,877
45.75
Pentane
45.35
Gasoline
47.30
20,400
44.4
Paraffin wax
46.00
19,900
41.50
Kerosene
46.20
19,862
43.00
Diesel
44.80
19,300
43.4
Coal (Anthracite)
32.50
14,000
Coal (Lignite)
15.00
8,000
Wood (MAF)
21.7
8,700
Peat (damp)
6.00
2,500
15.00
6,500
Peat (dry)
Higher heating value
of some less common fuels[3]
Fuel
HHV MJ/kg
BTU/lb
kJ/mol
Methanol
22.7
9,800
726.0
Ethanol
29.7
12,800
1,300.0
Propanol
33.6
14,500
2,020.0
Acetylene
49.9
21,500
1,300.0
Benzene
41.8
18,000
3,270.0
Ammonia
22.5
9,690
382.0
Hydrazine
19.4
8,370
622.0
Hexamine
30.0
12,900
4,200.0
Carbon
32.8
14,100
393.5
Higher (HHV) and Lower (LHV) Heating values
of some common fuels[3]
Fuel
Hydrogen
HHV MJ/kg
HHV BTU/lb
HHV kJ/mol
LHV MJ/kg
141.80
61,000
286
119.96
Methane
55.50
23,900
889
50.00
Ethane
51.90
22,400
1,560
47.80
Propane
50.35
21,700
2,220
46.35
Butane
49.50
20,900
2,877
45.75
Pentane
45.35
Gasoline
47.30
20,400
44.4
Paraffin wax
46.00
19,900
41.50
Kerosene
46.20
19,862
43.00
Diesel
44.80
19,300
43.4
Coal (Anthracite)
32.50
14,000
Coal (Lignite)
15.00
8,000
Wood (MAF)
21.7
8,700
Peat (damp)
6.00
2,500
15.00
6,500
Peat (dry)
Higher heating value
of some less common fuels[3]
Fuel
HHV MJ/kg
BTU/lb
kJ/mol
Methanol
22.7
9,800
726.0
Ethanol
29.7
12,800
1,300.0
Propanol
33.6
14,500
2,020.0
Acetylene
49.9
21,500
1,300.0
Benzene
41.8
18,000
3,270.0
Ammonia
22.5
9,690
382.0
Hydrazine
19.4
8,370
622.0
Hexamine
30.0
12,900
4,200.0
Carbon
32.8
14,100
393.5
Higher (HHV) and Lower (LHV) Heating values
of some common fuels[3]
Fuel
Hydrogen
HHV MJ/kg
HHV BTU/lb
HHV kJ/mol
LHV MJ/kg
141.80
61,000
286
119.96
Methane
55.50
23,900
889
50.00
Ethane
51.90
22,400
1,560
47.80
Propane
50.35
21,700
2,220
46.35
Butane
49.50
20,900
2,877
45.75
Pentane
45.35
Gasoline
47.30
20,400
44.4
Paraffin wax
46.00
19,900
41.50
Kerosene
46.20
19,862
43.00
Diesel
44.80
19,300
43.4
Coal (Anthracite)
32.50
14,000
Coal (Lignite)
15.00
8,000
Wood (MAF)
21.7
8,700
Peat (damp)
6.00
2,500
15.00
6,500
Peat (dry)
Higher heating value
of some less common fuels[3]
Fuel
HHV MJ/kg
BTU/lb
kJ/mol
Methanol
22.7
9,800
726.0
Ethanol
29.7
12,800
1,300.0
Propanol
33.6
14,500
2,020.0
Acetylene
49.9
21,500
1,300.0
Benzene
41.8
18,000
3,270.0
Ammonia
22.5
9,690
382.0
Hydrazine
19.4
8,370
622.0
Hexamine
30.0
12,900
4,200.0
Carbon
32.8
14,100
393.5
Higher (HHV) and Lower (LHV) Heating values
of some common fuels[3]
Fuel
Hydrogen
HHV MJ/kg
HHV BTU/lb
HHV kJ/mol
LHV MJ/kg
141.80
61,000
286
119.96
Methane
55.50
23,900
889
50.00
Ethane
51.90
22,400
1,560
47.80
Propane
50.35
21,700
2,220
46.35
Butane
49.50
20,900
2,877
45.75
Pentane
45.35
Gasoline
47.30
20,400
44.4
Paraffin wax
46.00
19,900
41.50
Kerosene
46.20
19,862
43.00
Diesel
44.80
19,300
43.4
Coal (Anthracite)
32.50
14,000
Coal (Lignite)
15.00
8,000
Wood (MAF)
21.7
8,700
Peat (damp)
6.00
2,500
15.00
6,500
Peat (dry)
Higher heating value
of some less common fuels[3]
Fuel
HHV MJ/kg
BTU/lb
kJ/mol
Methanol
22.7
9,800
726.0
Ethanol
29.7
12,800
1,300.0
Propanol
33.6
14,500
2,020.0
Acetylene
49.9
21,500
1,300.0
Benzene
41.8
18,000
3,270.0
Ammonia
22.5
9,690
382.0
Hydrazine
19.4
8,370
622.0
Hexamine
30.0
12,900
4,200.0
Carbon
32.8
14,100
393.5
Higher (HHV) and Lower (LHV) Heating values
of some common fuels[3]
Fuel
Hydrogen
HHV MJ/kg
HHV BTU/lb
HHV kJ/mol
LHV MJ/kg
141.80
61,000
286
119.96
Methane
55.50
23,900
889
50.00
Ethane
51.90
22,400
1,560
47.80
Propane
50.35
21,700
2,220
46.35
Butane
49.50
20,900
2,877
45.75
Pentane
45.35
Gasoline
47.30
20,400
44.4
Paraffin wax
46.00
19,900
41.50
Kerosene
46.20
19,862
43.00
Diesel
44.80
19,300
43.4
Coal (Anthracite)
32.50
14,000
Coal (Lignite)
15.00
8,000
Wood (MAF)
21.7
8,700
Peat (damp)
6.00
2,500
15.00
6,500
Peat (dry)
Higher heating value
of some less common fuels[3]
Fuel
HHV MJ/kg
BTU/lb
kJ/mol
Methanol
22.7
9,800
726.0
Ethanol
29.7
12,800
1,300.0
Propanol
33.6
14,500
2,020.0
Acetylene
49.9
21,500
1,300.0
Benzene
41.8
18,000
3,270.0
Ammonia
22.5
9,690
382.0
Hydrazine
19.4
8,370
622.0
Hexamine
30.0
12,900
4,200.0
Carbon
32.8
14,100
393.5
Higher (HHV) and Lower (LHV) Heating values
of some common fuels[3]
Fuel
Hydrogen
HHV MJ/kg
HHV BTU/lb
HHV kJ/mol
LHV MJ/kg
141.80
61,000
286
119.96
Methane
55.50
23,900
889
50.00
Ethane
51.90
22,400
1,560
47.80
Propane
50.35
21,700
2,220
46.35
Butane
49.50
20,900
2,877
45.75
Pentane
45.35
Gasoline
47.30
20,400
44.4
Paraffin wax
46.00
19,900
41.50
Kerosene
46.20
19,862
43.00
Diesel
44.80
19,300
43.4
Coal (Anthracite)
32.50
14,000
Coal (Lignite)
15.00
8,000
Wood (MAF)
21.7
8,700
Peat (damp)
6.00
2,500
15.00
6,500
Peat (dry)
Higher heating value
of some less common fuels[3]
Fuel
HHV MJ/kg
BTU/lb
kJ/mol
Methanol
22.7
9,800
726.0
Ethanol
29.7
12,800
1,300.0
Propanol
33.6
14,500
2,020.0
Acetylene
49.9
21,500
1,300.0
Benzene
41.8
18,000
3,270.0
Ammonia
22.5
9,690
382.0
Hydrazine
19.4
8,370
622.0
Hexamine
30.0
12,900
4,200.0
Carbon
32.8
14,100
393.5
Higher (HHV) and Lower (LHV) Heating values
of some common fuels[3]
Fuel
Hydrogen
HHV MJ/kg
HHV BTU/lb
HHV kJ/mol
LHV MJ/kg
141.80
61,000
286
119.96
Methane
55.50
23,900
889
50.00
Ethane
51.90
22,400
1,560
47.80
Propane
50.35
21,700
2,220
46.35
Butane
49.50
20,900
2,877
45.75
Pentane
45.35
Gasoline
47.30
20,400
44.4
Paraffin wax
46.00
19,900
41.50
Kerosene
46.20
19,862
43.00
Diesel
44.80
19,300
43.4
Coal (Anthracite)
32.50
14,000
Coal (Lignite)
15.00
8,000
Wood (MAF)
21.7
8,700
Peat (damp)
6.00
2,500
15.00
6,500
Peat (dry)
Higher heating value
of some less common fuels[3]
Fuel
HHV MJ/kg
BTU/lb
kJ/mol
Methanol
22.7
9,800
726.0
Ethanol
29.7
12,800
1,300.0
Propanol
33.6
14,500
2,020.0
Acetylene
49.9
21,500
1,300.0
Benzene
41.8
18,000
3,270.0
Ammonia
22.5
9,690
382.0
Hydrazine
19.4
8,370
622.0
Hexamine
30.0
12,900
4,200.0
Carbon
32.8
14,100
393.5
Lower heating value for some organic compounds (at 15.4C) [citation needed]
Fuel
MJ/kg
MJ/L
BTU/lb
kJ/mol
Alkanes
Methane
50.009
21,504
802.34
Ethane
47.794
20,551
1,437.2
Propane
46.357
19,934
2,044.2
Butane
45.752
19,673
2,659.3
Pentane
45.357
28.39
21,706
3,272.6
Hexane
44.752
29.30
19,504
3,856.7
Heptane
44.566
30.48
19,163
4,465.8
Octane
44.427
31.23
19,104
5,074.9
Nonane
44.311
31.82
19,054
5,683.3
Decane
44.240
33.29
19,023
6,294.5
Undecane
44.194
32.70
19,003
6,908.0
Dodecane
44.147
33.11
18,983
7,519.6
Isoparaffins
Isobutane
45.613
19,614
2,651.0
Isopentane
45.241
27.87
19,454
3,264.1
2-Methylpentane
44.682
29.18
19,213
6,850.7
2,3-Dimethylbutane
44.659
29.56
19,203
3,848.7
2,3-Dimethylpentane
44.496
30.92
19,133
4,458.5
2,2,4-Trimethylpentane
44.310
30.49
19,053
5,061.5
Naphthenes
Cyclopentane
44.636
33.52
19,193
3,129.0
Methylcyclopentane
44.636?
33.43?
19,193?
3,756.6?
Cyclohexane
43.450
33.85
18,684
3,656.8
Methylcyclohexane
43.380
33.40
18,653
4,259.5
Monoolefins
Ethylene
47.195
Propylene
45.799
1-Butene
45.334
cis-2-Butene
45.194
trans-2-Butene
45.124
Isobutene
45.055
1-Pentene
45.031
2-Methyl-1-pentene
44.799
1-Hexene
44.426
Diolefins
1,3-Butadiene
44.613
Isoprene
44.078
Nitrous derivated
Nitromethane
10.513
Nitropropane
20.693
Acetylenes
Acetylene
48.241
Methylacetylene
46.194
1-Butyne
45.590
1-Pentyne
45.217
Aromatics
Benzene
40.170
Toluene
40.589
o-Xylene
40.961
m-Xylene
40.961
p-Xylene
40.798
Ethylbenzene
40.938
1,2,4-Trimethylbenzene
40.984
Propylbenzene[disambiguation needed]
41.193
Cumene
41.217
Alcohols
Methanol
19.930
15.78
8,570
638.55
Ethanol
28.865
22.77
12,412
1,329.8
n-Propanol
30.680
24.65
13,192
1,843.9
Isopropanol
30.447
23.93
13,092
1,829.9
n-Butanol
33.075
26.79
14,222
2,501.6
Isobutanol
32.959
26.43
14,172
2,442.9
Tert-butanol
32.587
25.45
14,012
2,415.3
n-Pentanol
34.727
28.28
14,933
3,061.2
Isoamyl alcohol
31.416?
35.64?
13,509?
2,769.3?
Ethers
Methoxymethane
28.703
12,342
1,322.3
Ethoxyethane
33.867
24.16
14,563
2,510.2
Propoxypropane
36.355
26.76
15,633
3,568.0
Butoxybutane
37.798
28.88
16,253
4,922.4
Aldehydes and ketones
Methanal
17.259
Ethanal
24.156
Propionaldehyde
28.889
Butyraldehyde
31.610
Acetone
28.548
22.62
Other species
Carbon (graphite)
32.808
Hydrogen
120.971
52,017
244
Carbon monoxide
10.112
4,348
283.24
Ammonia
18.646
8,018
317.56
Sulfur (solid)
9.163
3,940
293.82
Note that there is no difference between the lower and higher heating values for the combustion
of carbon, carbon monoxide and sulfur since no water is formed in combusting those substances.
BTU/lb values are calculated from MJ/kg (1 MJ/kg = 430 BTU/lb).
The lower heating value of natural gas is normally about 90 percent of its higher heating val.
See also
Adiabatic flame temperature
Combustion
Energy density
Energy value of coal
Exothermic reaction
Fire
Fuel efficiency#Energy content of fuel
Food energy
Internal energy
Thermal efficiency
Wobbe index: heat density
ISO 15971
Electrical efficiency
Mechanical efficiency
Figure of merit
Relative cost of electricity generated by different sources
Energy conversion efficiency
References
1.
^ Air Quality Engineering, CE 218A, W. Nazaroff and R. Harley,
University of California Berkeley, 2007
2.
^ [Link]
a b
3.
NIST Chemistry WebBook
4.
^ Key World Energy Statistics (2005), page 59